Regulating device for automatic machine-guns.



Patented No m l4, I899.

I F. M. GARLAND. REGULATING DEVIOE FOB AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

(Hi Norms PETERS co. PHOTO-L|THD.. WASHINQTQN, n. c.

No. 636326.. Patented Nov. |4,' I899.

F. M. GARLAND.

REGULATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1899.)

(N0 Model-3 3 SheetsShept 2,

No. 636,976. Patented Nov. I4, I899. F. M. GARLAND.

REGULATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUNS.

(Application filed Apr. 26, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (Nb Model.)

of Connecticut, have invented certain new AT FETCH:

FRANK 1W1. GARLAND, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

REGULATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MACHINE-GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,976, dated November 14, 1899.

Application filed April 26, 1899. Serial No. 714,511. 0 model-l To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. GARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State and useful Improvements in Regulating Devices for Automatic Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device particularly adapted for regulating the action of the operating-spring of an automatic machinegun in which the barrel is moved backwardly by recoil incident to the firing of the ammunition but it is also applicable to other guns for automatically regulating the recoil-checking mechanisms, so that those mechanisms will operate with the same efficiency whether the muzzle is elevated and recoil is aided by gravity or the muzzle is depressed and recoil is checked by gravity.

When the muzzle of an automatic gun is depressed, as for firing from the deck of a ship to a torpedo-boat, the recoil is resisted not only by the checking-piston and the operating-spring, but also by the action of gravity upon the barrel, and the operating-spring is proportionately assisted by the weight of the barrel. When the muzzle is elevated, as for firing up into a military mast, the conditions are reversed and the recoil is assisted by the action of gravity, while the operatingspring must necessarily work against this force. To provide for these conditions, the operating-spring must be sufficiently stifi when the muzzle is elevated to assist in checking the recoil of the barrel downwardly and lift the barrel upwardly against the force of gravity. The spring must also be comparatively weak when the muzzle is depressed, so that it will not unduly check the recoil and throw the barrel forwardly and downwardly with too much violence. It is the same with other guns. lVhen the muzzles are elevated,

the recoil-check must-be stiff to counterbalance recoil and gravity, and when the muzzles are depressed the recoil is resisted by gravity.

The object of this invention is to so connect the gun mechanism with the mount that the tension of the operating-spring or checking mechanisms will be automatically regulated as the elevation or depression of the muzzle is effected.

The invention is illustrated as applied to an automatic machine-gun in which the operating-springis so connected with the mount that its effective force is increased as the muzzle of the barrel is elevated and is decreased as the muzzle is depressed in order that the spring may be more powerful when it is required to lift the barrel and less powerful when the forward movement of the barrel is assisted by gravity; but the invention is applied between the barrel and the mount of other guns in a similar manner in order to increase tension when the muzzle is elevated and lessen tension when the muzzle is de* pressed. v

Of the illustrations, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automatic machine-gun that embodies the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinalsectional view of parts of the gun immediately connected. with the regulating device. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of these parts, and Fig. 4 is a detail of the tensionlever.

The trunnions 1 of the gun shown are held by boxes at the upper ends of the yoke 2, that is attached to the head 3, which head is rotatably supported in an opening at the top of the conical mount l. The cylindrical head 3 fits the opening in the mount and has a shank 5, that projects downwardly and is supported in a pocket in the bracket 6. The head is provided with a block 7, that is forced to bind and clamp the head against rotary movement in the mount when the lever 8 is drawn rearwardly by the rod 9, that is connected with the fine and coarse elevating and clamping handles 10, which parts, however, form no portion of the present invention. A block 11, with a threaded perforation, is mounted upon a screw 12, that is held by the head 3. This block bears a vertically-adjustable roll 13.

- The barrel 1 1 is loosely supported by the IOO a seam connected with a rod 18, attached to the piston 19, that is movable in the cylinder 20 in the case above the barrel. The piston and cylinder are arranged for checking the backward movement of the barrel and regulating the forward movement of the barrel. Joined to the barrel or to a frame attached to the barrel near the breech is a rod 21. This rod, which is below the barrel and extends forwardly through the case, bears a loose collar 22 and an adjustable collar 23, the latter having a threaded interior perforation that fits upon the exterior thread at the end of the rod. Connected with the loose collar is a yoke 24, that is fastened to a portion of the case by a pivot 25, and this yoke has a tail 26, which extends downwardly into the cylindrical head past the adjustable roll 13. A spring .27 is placed upon the rod 21 between the loose collar 22 and the adjustable collar 23. The thrust of this spring is resisted by the loose collar, which is held from movement backward] y by the contact of the yoke-shank with the adjustable roll in the head, so that the adjustable collar, and consequently the barrel to which it is connected by the rod, is held forwardly with a force that will vary according to the variation of the-distance between the loose and adjustable collars. The tension of the spring is regulated by changing the position of the adjustable collar along the rod,and the point of contact between the yoke-shank and the roll may be varied by changing the Vertical position of the roll. With this construction as the muzzle of the gun is depressed the loose collar is allowed to move away from the adjustable collar, so that the tension of the spring will be lessened according to the amount of depression, and by this means the resistance of this spring to recoil of the barrel is decreased-a desirable result, for the recoilin g force is compelled to lift the barrel in this instance. By this means also the effective force of the spring for causing the barrel to move forwardly is lesseneda most advantageous result, for the weight of the barrel in this case assists its forward movement. As the muzzle of the gun is elevated the contact of the yoke-shank with the roll causes the loose collar to move toward the adjustable collar, and thus increase the tension of the spring according to the degree of elevation. This stiffens the spring, as the barrel moves more and more into such a position that its weight assists the recoiling force, and its weight has to be lifted by the spring after recoil. The spring of a gun provided with this invention can be readily adjusted to give the requisite power when the barrel is level, and the regulating device is easily adjusted so that the increase or decrease of tension that automatically changes will vary in just the proper proportion to compensate for the different positions of the barrel.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with the mount of a gun, a barrel pivotally supported by the mount and arranged to recoil longitudinally, a spring for effecting the longitudinal movement of the barrel, and a connection between a part that oscillates with the barrel and a part of the mount that does not oscillate, said connection being engaged by the spring whereby the tension of the spring varies as the elevation or depression of the barrel is changed, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the mount of a gun, a barrel pivotally supported by the mount and arranged to recoil longitudinally, arecoilcheck that oscillates with the barrel, and a connection between a portion of the mount that does not oscillate and the check whereby the stiffness of the check is varied as the elevation or depression of the barrel is changed, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with the mount of an automatic machine-gun, a barrel pivotally sup ported. by the mount, a spring that will oscillate with the barrel for effecting the movement of the barrel in one direction, and a connection between the spring that oscillates with the barrel and a portion of the mount that does not oscillate whereby the tension of the spring is varied as the elevation or depression of the barrel is changed, substan tially as specified.

4:. In combination with the moving barrel of an automatic machine-gun and the mount pivotally supporting the same, a spring for effecting the forward movement of the bar rel, a cylinder and piston for controlling the automatic movement of the barrel, and a con nection between an oscillating part and the mount, said connection engaging the spring whereby the tension of the spring is varied as the elevation or depression of the barrel is changed, substantially as specified.

5. In combination with the mount of an an tomatic machine-gun, a barrel pivotally supported by the mount, a spring that oscillates with the barrel for effecting the movement of the barrel in one direction, means for regu lating the tension of the spring, and a con nection between the spring that oscillates with the barrel and the mount that does not oscillate whereby the tension of the spring is varied as the elevation or depression of the barrel. is changed, substantially as specified.

6. In combination with the moving barrel of an automatic machine-gun and the mount supporting the gun, a spring forefl ecting the movement of the barrel in one direction, a connection between the spring which oscillates when the barrel is elevated or depressed and the mount which does not oscillate whereby the tension of the spring varies as the elevation or depression of the barrel is changed, and means for adjusting the connection be tween the spring and the mount and changing the amount of variation of tension of the collar, and a roll adjustably supported by spring, substantially as specified. the mount in position to engage a portion of IO 7. In combination with the moving barrel the yoke, substantially as specified.

of an automatic machine-gun and the mount 5 supporting the gun, a spring on a rod con- FRANK GARLAND neoted with the barrel, an adjustable collar Witnesses: mounted upon the rod, a loose collar mounted H. R. WILLIAMS, upon the rod, a yoke connected with the loose C. E. BUOKLAND. 

